Changes to RFD:
 
1. Clearer, more concise language.
2. Correction to number of messages per week.
3. Better definition of means of moderation and role of moderation panel.
4. Concise listing of exclusionary criteria.
        a. Dropping references to POD, PGP and MIME text.
        b. Dropping signature line definition.
        c. Dropping paragraph on advertisements.
        d. Dropping paragraph on subject lines  and content.
        e. Inclusion of paragraph defining disposition and reporting of
           off-topic postings.
        f. Redefinition of moderator replacement procedures.
        g. Redefinition of gating provision.
 
                    REQUEST FOR DISCUSSION
                  moderated rec.pets.ferrets
 
This is a Request for Discussion (RFD) for the creation of world-wide
moderated Usenet newsgroup in the rec.pets hierarchy.  This is not a
call for votes; you cannot vote at this time.  Procedural details are
below.
 
Newsgroups line:
rec.pets.ferrets       Discussion about domestic ferrets. (Moderated)
 
RATIONALE: rec.pets.ferrets
 
Most ferret-related issues are currently discussed in alt.pets.ferrets
(apf).  The statistics compiled by one of the proponents indicate that
this group regularly receives more than 180 messages per week.  However,
a disturbing percentage of the traffic on apf consists of off-topic
articles, including articles cross-posted excessively (spam) and binaries.
 
This rec.pets group is therefore proposed as a moderated newsgroup with a
higher "signal-to-noise" ratio, where readers will not encounter the
types of articles described above.  The intention is both to provide a
useful resource for inexperienced ferret owners, and to attract and
retain experienced owners and specialists who can make a substantial
contribution to the group.  The creation of a group in the usenet
hierarchy will allow more interested people to participate, compared to
the limited distribution of the existing apf.
 
The current intention is to "robo-moderate" the group, using a script
overseen by a moderation panel.  The moderation panel may, at its
discretion, implement other technical solutions it considers necessary
to enforce the provisions of the charter.
 
Moderation is by no means intended to impede freedom of speech, but
rather to help readers make the most of their time by ensuring conformity
to the objectives outlined in the charter.  Like the "cancel-bots"
currently in use in many hierarchies, robo-moderation is intended mainly
to remove spam and binary articles from the newsgroup; but unlike the
cancel-bots, a moderation script will be able to eliminate many of these
articles before they reach any readers.  Furthermore, it is anticipated
that spammers will become increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to
evade existing Usenet-wide cancellation mechanisms.  The presence of a
moderation panel with specific knowledge of and concern for this newsgroup
will allow it to react more quickly and perhaps more effectively to reject
spam articles which would not otherwise trigger the cancel-bots.
 
CHARTER: rec.pets.ferrets
 
The group is for discussion of domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius
furo).  Examples of appropriate topics include, but are not limited
to, ferret care, behavior, history, and legal status, as well as
fictional works involving ferrets, announcements of ferret-related
events or resources, and peripherally related discussions between
members of the "ferret community".
 
The group is moderated, with the intention of ensuring that its contents
meet the provisions of this charter.  As much as possible, the moderation
panel uses a robo-moderation script, with any questionable articles
reviewed by one or more members of the panel.
 
As best as it can be arranged, articles which meet any of the following
criteria are rejected:
 
+ articles which are cross-posted excessively;
+ binary files and other non-text articles;
+ articles which contain only text quoted from previous articles, not
  including the poster's signature, if present;
+ articles which substantively duplicate known forms of spam;
+ off-topic commercial advertising.
 
A monthly report listing all articles rejected by the robo-moderation
script during the previous month is posted to the group.
 
The moderation panel consists of no fewer than 2 and no more than 10
members.  In the case of a temporary abscence by a member of the
moderation panel, he or she may nominate a replacement for the duration
of said abscence, to be approved by the other moderators.  If the absence
of a moderator would leave fewer than three remaining members of the
panel, the absent moderator shall make every effort to nominate such a
replacement.  New members may be appointed upon the permanent departure
of an existing member, or as the moderation panel deems appropriate.
 
Any member of the moderation panel may cancel any article found in the
group which has not been approved by an authorized moderation site, or
which is deemed to have been approved by the robo-moderation script in
error (i.e., which does not meet this charter but was approved by the
script).  Similarly, any member of the moderation panel may approve
any article which is deemed to have been erroneously rejected by the
robo-moderator.
 
The moderation panel may depose one of its members if a motion to this
effect is approved by no fewer than 2/3 of existing permanent members.
 
All other decisions made by the moderation panel are taken on the basis of
a simple majority vote among its current members (not including temporary
replacements).  The panel shall formulate and publish additional terms of
reference, including rules of procedure, in accordance with the provisions
of this charter, at its earliest convenience following the adoption of
this charter.
 
The moderation panel may gate aproved articles to mailing lists with the
permission of the lists' owners and with warning given to the lists'
subscribers.  They do not expect to gate the group to any mailing lists
existing at the time of adoption of this charter.
 
END CHARTER
 
MODERATOR INFO: rec.pets.ferrets
 
Moderator: Roger McMillian <[log in to unmask]>
Moderator: Kevin Kadow <[log in to unmask]>
Moderator: Pamela Greene <[log in to unmask]>
Moderator: David Caudill <[log in to unmask]>
 
Submission address: [log in to unmask]
Administrative address: [log in to unmask]
 
END MODERATOR INFO
 
PROCEDURE:
 
This is a request for discussion, not a call for votes.  In this phase,
potential problems with the proposal should be raised.  The discussion
will continue for a minimum of 14 days, starting from the time this RFD
is posted to news.announce.newgroups.  After that, a Call For Votes (CFV)
may be posted by a neutral vote taker, if the discussion warrants it.
Please do not attempt to vote until this happens.
 
DISTRIBUTION:
 
This [DRAFT] RFD has been posted to the following groups:
 
rec.pets
alt.pets.ferrets
news.groups
news.announce.newgroups
 
as well as the following mailing lists
Ferret Mailing List
Ferret Forum Mailing List
 
Proponent: Roger McMillian <[log in to unmask]>
Proponent: Kevin Kadow <[log in to unmask]>
Proponent: David Richards <[log in to unmask]>
Proponent: Pamela Greene <[log in to unmask]>
Proponent: David Caudill <[log in to unmask]>
[Posted in FML issue 2015]